This week Ashoka announced their new fellows elected during the December 2008 — April 2009 session. I am especially excited to read about the system-changing work that these social entrepreneurs are doing after reading David Bornstein’s book, How to Change the World. As I profiled in an earlier post, How to Change the World takes a closer look at the stories of social entrepreneurs, most of whom are Ashoka Fellows.
Bill Drayton, the founder of Ashoka, takes pride in his fellow selection process. Fellows are nominated by local representatives, then interviewed. After the initial interviews, extensive multi-person interviews are performed. Drayton coaches the interviewers on what questions to ask and what responses they should receive. In the end, the panel must come to a consensus. If each interviewer does not say, “Yes,” then the entrepreneur is not selected. The process is tough, but Drayton has found a way to find needles in a haystack.
Ashoka’s fellow finding process has historically proven that finding the innovators who are making the largest changes is possible. That is why it gives me great pleasure to introduce the newest Ashoka fellows:
HUMAN RIGHTS
Alito Alessi, Mexico, Senior Fellow
Eliminating prejudices and misconceptions towards disabled people through mixed-abilities dance that enables expression for all people. Read more here.
Tasneem Siddiqui, Pakistan, Senior Fellow
Overhauling the traditional housing scheme by granting former slumdwellers access to affordable and developed plots of land. Read more here.
Asad Danish, Afghanistan, Fellow
Bringing harmony to war-torn Afghanistan and the Pushtoon tribal belt in Pakistan by encouraging a culture of reading and increasing the literacy rate. Read more here.
Junior Smart, UK, Fellow
Providing new avenues of reintegration for prisoners through a peer mentoring system led by ex-offenders. Read more here.
HEALTH
Sanjeev Arora, USA, Fellow
Spreading a new model to treat complex chronic diseases in rural and underserved areas by connecting urban healthcare specialists with rural providers through communication technology. Read more here.
Albert Jovell, Spain, Fellow
Democratizing healthcare by giving patients a platform to play a more participatory role in decisions concerning their health. Read more here.
Jorge Gronda, Argentina, Senior Fellow
Creating a self-sustaining, alternative healthcare system for bottom-of-the-pyramid patients. Read more here.
Anna Alisjahbana, Indonesia, Senior Fellow
Combating high infant mortality rates and child development problems through a model that combines early monitoring and intervention and strong doctor-patient relationships. Read more here.
Julia Borbolla, Mexico, Fellow
Transcending traditional methods of child psychology with new forms of multimedia treatment. Read more here.
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
Pierre Rabhi, France, Senior Fellow
Offering an alternative to agricultural industrialization patterns by demonstrating technical and philosophical relationships between human beings, food production, nature, and modernity. Read more here.
Ingrid Munro, Kenya, Senior Fellow
Providing urban poor and slum dwellers access to business and housing loans, health and life insurance, and business education through the largest microfinance institution in East Africa. Read more here.
Zeinab Al-Momani, Jordan, Fellow
Empowering female farmers to organize unions and gain access to economic and social opportunities. Read more here.
Lucie Chagnon, Canada, Fellow
Bringing a new solution to help employees manage their personal responsibilities through the first online provider of work-life balance services. Read more here.
LEARNING/EDUCATION
Jean-Claude Decalonne, France, Fellow
Increasing the performance of at-risk youth by teaching them teamwork, discipline and self-esteem through participation in school orchestras. Read more here.
Fairouz Omar, Egypt, Fellow
Normalizing the idea of counseling for all individuals through training in-school counselors in methodologies adapted to Egyptian culture. Read more here.
Connie Siskowski, USA, Fellow
Bringing recognition and value to youth who have dual roles as students and caregivers for ill, frail or disabled family members. Read more here.
CIVIC ENGAGEMENT
David Castro, USA, Fellow
Building the capacity of marginalized communities by identifying grassroots leaders and teaching them the life skills to be agents of change. Read more here.
Manon Barbeau, Canada, Fellow
Restoring damaged aboriginal culture through a professional film-making process that connects indigenous communities internationally. Read more here.
Olivier Gaillard, Belgium, Fellow
Transforming the youth years in Belgium by organizing teenagers as agents of social change. Read more here.
Tom Steinberg, UK, Fellow
Demystifying politics and democracy through participatory internet technology interfaces. Read more here.
Raziq Fahim, Pakistan, Fellow
Countering the recruitment of young people by militant and extremist groups by engaging youth in the development of their region. Read more here.
ENVIRONMENT
Rob Hopkins, UK, Fellow
Providing a holistic, bottom-up solution to the problems of climate change and peak oil. Read more here.
If you know of a social entrepreneur worthy of being recognized, nominate them!
*Photo courtesy of Wil Kristin
Ashoka
- Invests in social entrepreneurs around the world who have innovative, sustainable and replicable solutions to society’s most pressing social problems.
- Organization Type: Non-Profit
- Website: www.ashoka.org
- Founder(s): Bill Drayton
- Founded: 1980
- Location: Washinton, DC, United States
Contributor Profile: Tristan
Tristan is a social change advocate and social media do-gooder. He has worked with Ashoka and Best Buy promoting social entrepreneurship and responsibility.
Twitter: @writerpollock
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